Prosecutor reveals accused gunman in Jared Bridegan murder case wasn’t alone on night of murder

While prosecutors allege that Henry Tenon fired the shots that killed Jared Bridegan, the state says two others were at the scene when the killing happened.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — During one of the final pretrial hearings Friday for Mario Fernandez-Saldana, one of three people charged in the murder of St. Augustine father of four Jared Bridegan, a prosecutor revealed that alleged hitman Henry Tenon was not alone on the night of the killing.

Bridegan was shot and killed in Jacksonville Beach on Feb. 16, 2022 while stopped on the side of a road after encountering a tire in the roadway.

This story continues below.

Prosecutors allege Fernandez-Saldana helped orchestrate the murder with Shanna Gardner, his now-estranged wife and Bridegan’s ex-wife, hiring Tenon as the hitman. The three defendants are expected to stand trial soon.

Prosecutors had only previously stated that Tenon was the person who fired the shots that killed Bridegan.

However, in court Friday, Assistant State Attorney Alan Mizrahi said the state has “overwhelming evidence” that there is a conspiracy in this case and that multiple individuals were on the scene when Bridegan was killed.

“When the victim was killed, there’s a person that fled on foot and a person that fled in their vehicle,” Mizrahi said. “We know that Henry Tenon left his DNA behind on that tire, and that we know that Henry Tenon was not driving the pickup truck that fled the scene.”

Mizrahi added that the state has evidence supporting their claims that Fernandez-Saldana was Tenon’s landlord, and that the two communicated with each other in the days and weeks before, day of and after Bridegan was killed.

The new development comes as trial nears for Fernandez-Saldana and Gardner.

Prosecutors dropped conspiracy to commit murder and child abuse charges against Fernandez-Saldana on Monday, saying they wanted to streamline the case.

As for Gardner, the 39-year-old faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony and child abuse. Tenon faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, child abuse, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and accessory after the fact.

Jury selection for Fernandez Saldana’s trial is expected to begin on Aug. 10, with the trial a week later. Gardner’s jury will be chosen beginning Aug. 31.

Tenon’s trial is scheduled for early 2027.